In a recent conversation, I was asked how someone who has been a stay-at-home parent for several years can go about returning to the workforce. In this case, the person had been home with their children for 15 years and had worked in administrative positions in the past.
I suggest people in this position start by looking at the skills they use every day, and make note of those that could be transferred to the workplace. Employers typically look for skills that support or increase revenue. Don’t overlook those skills used in volunteer activities, too. Often these activities involve a high level of personnel management, organizational and money-management skills.
When you are reconnecting to the workforce, one of your first hurdles often is your confidence level. One way to address this is to talk with people who are doing what you want to do. It’s called an informational interview, and it can help you with two issues: What has changed in today’s business climate and what skills are needed to succeed. With that information, you can start developing an action plan.
If you don’t know where to start, you probably don’t have enough information and instead of conducting a job search, you need to do some research.
A plan is part of a job search, and that means focusing on a direction that interests you. To say you want to go back to work without knowing the direction you want to take can become overwhelming.
You also can visit O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration’s online tool at www.onetcenter.org. Here you will find information about occupations and the skills, tasks and technology needed to do the job.
